LAUSR

Dysregulation of the 7-transmembrane receptors Smoothened (SMO) and other components of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway causes several cancers, including medulloblastoma (MB) and glioblastoma. However, SMO-specific antagonists produced mixed results in clinical trials, marked by a limited efficacy and a high rate of acquired resistance in tumors. Computational modeling of protein docking sites, analytical configuration modeling of crystallographic data, and in Vitro and in Vivo xenograft experiments. Using computational modeling of SMO structure, we discovered that Nilotinib, an FDA-approved receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, directly binds to SMO. Furthermore, Nilotinib was more efficacious than the SMO-specific antagonist Vismodegib in inhibiting cell growth and Gli-1 mRNA and protein levels in Hh-dependent MB cells and glioblastoma cells. It also reduced tumor growth in the Hh-dependent MB and glioblastoma mouse xenograft models. These results indicate that in addition to its ability to inhibit several tyrosine kinase-mediated proliferative pathways, Nilotinib is active against the Hh pathway. The newly discovered extension of Nilotinib target profile holds promise for the treatment of Hh-dependent cancers. It also calls for comprehensive characterization of pharmacology for other drugs and incorporation of their multitarget profiles into drug-disease matching criteria for personalized medicine.